Battery Life

[Jaybird]

How long does a battery normally last, I still have the original Battery in my 05 Navara, still works good but wondering if this is just luck and if I should replace it before I take off on a big trip towing the caravan.
Thanks

 

[KraftyPg]

Batteries don't have set lives. I've have Nissan factory batteries last more than 8 years, I've had auto shop batteries last less than 3. Replacing it is no guarantee that it will work on any big trip.

if it aint broke and you aint going to the most remote part of the country were shops consist of a watering hole and emu burgers cooking on a grill I say don't bother trying to fix it.

 

[Old.Tony]

As above.

Starter batteries are supposed to last no more than 5 years. Flooded deep cycle batteries from 4-7 years, gels 5-8, AGMs anywhere from 6-10 years.

That all assumes several things: perfect manufacture, good operating conditions, good maintenance.

Letting the battery voltage fall too far (eg 12.2V or below) is bad for the battery. Plates start to degrade, sulphate crystals begin to form and vibration makes them fall off the plates and settle to the bottom where they eventually short the cells out. This can sometimes be reversed with "equalisation charging" but eventually the batteries die.

You could very well be lucky. If you want my advice for any outback touring, I'd put a cranker-capable AGM (Optima D31A would be my choice) in the tub as an auxiliary and should the main fail, you can swap the two until you get to civilisation. If you're sticking to the main roads, then it's not such a big deal.

 

[Jaybird]

Thanks for your replies
I wont be travelling to far from civilisation so I will see how it goes.

 

[Rumpig]

I've got an 05 nav, the original battery died about 12 months ago so your probably not far off.